<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Century
Pension Income Fund XXIII 1996 Year-End 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such 10-K filing.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000764543
<NAME> CENTURY PENSION INCOME FUND XXIII
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           8,289
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                          87,337
<DEPRECIATION>                                  21,604
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  78,893
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                         41,939
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                    (23,392)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    78,893
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                12,282
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                15,540
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,607
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (3,681)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (37.66)<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>Registrant has an unclassified balance sheet.
<F2>Multiplier is 1.
</FN>